Leaders make new pledge to tackle anti-social behaviour

• 56% of people questioned in a YouGov poll want more done to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB)
• even more - 57% of those questioned - never report it, because they claim nothing gets done
• now, representatives of the county’s six local authorities, the police and office of the police and crime commissioner have signed-up to a new six-point plan to address the problem
• Angela Denison, from the national charity ASB Help, said: “It is important that the challenge of ASB continues to be given the priority it needs so that people everywhere feel safe in their homes and communities.

Most people want more done about anti-social behaviour (ASB). According to research, even more people no longer bother to report it because they believe it is a waste of time.

That is the challenge for Gloucestershire leaders who have just signed-up to a new six-point plan to address the problem.

Representatives from the county’s six district councils, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Gloucestershire Constabulary and the national charity ASB Help signed a commitment to work more closely together.

It follows a similar pledge made in 2022, which has already led to a marked reduction in cases and agrees to:

• promote awareness [of ASB]
• adhere to legislation
• ensure accessibility
• deliver continuous improvement
• share information
• empower [ASB victims in the case review process].

Retired Detective Inspector Di Blandford, Gloucestershire’s Anti-Social Behaviour Case Review Coordinator said, “It is vital to develop partnership approaches across communities to deal with the growing challenges around ASB.

“We now have a countywide team of dedicated council case workers, police officers and PCSOs, working together under the name of ‘Solace’ to resolve complaints of high and medium level ASB. In addition, victims can ask for a review in which they can put their case”.

ASB is described in law as anything that causes harassment, alarm or distress and is directed at people or places. However, in the most recent poll, commissioned by Resolve, the UK’s leading ASB and community safety organisation, 56% of those questioned believed that ‘more needs to be done’ to tackle ASB in their neighbourhood, and 57%, who have seen or suffered, are indifferent to reporting it.

Angela Denison, ASB Help’s Victim and Partnership Project Manager, said: “It is important that the challenge of ASB continues to be given the priority it needs, so that people everywhere feel safe in their homes and communities.  

“It was a pleasure to meet with partners from Gloucestershire as they take The ASB Help Pledge, which shows their commitment to recognising the victims’ voice as well as promoting best practice as part of their ASB Case Review process”.

Reducing ASB in Gloucestershire has been one of Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson’s top priorities and will again feature prominently when he updates his police and crime prevention plan following his re-election.

Mr. Nelson said, “ASB can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on the lives of victims and communities and can lead to serious violence if it goes unchecked”.

You can find out more about ASB case reviews here: and/or watch a video on the topic here: